Shadow pattern slip joint help

N

Nsewell

Joined
Mar 26, 2017
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I'm having a hard time drilling the shadow bushing or washer without pushing it out.(I'm not sure of the proper name of it). So far I've made 7 slip joints all shadow pattern. Once I get the liners drilled i glue the scales on, then drill through the liners into the scales, flip the liner/scale over and line the pivot hole up with the same drill bit, clamp it down and drill with the same size as the shadow bushing, then finally square the bottom of the hole with an endmill. I square the end of my round stock on the grinder and cut a piece a little longer than I need and glue it in the hole. I've used epoxy, cheap super glue, and now tried loctite 326 with primer. After 24 hr I clamp it under a plate with a hole, liner up to make sure hole is perpendicular to the liner, put a new drill bit in the chuck and drill about 1\4 way through before it pushes the bushing out. Every one I've tried pushes out before it drills through. I want to try drilling them on the lathe, but I hadn't got it going yet. Please tell me a better way!
 
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Hi Nsewell, sounds like you know what you are doing and i am no were near an expert. But i put a block of hardwood under it so it can't go anywhere.
 
I've only made a couple shadow birds eye slipjoints and it was more than a year ago so I can't recall if I encountered your same problem,
anyway, several solutions depending on what your - "...clamp it under a plate with a hole" looks like

1) use a jack to support the bushing, screw jack or even large diameter socket head cap screw and nut as the base
2) use a 123 block or other support underneath with a sacrificial piece of material on top for the drill to enter.
3) grind or mill the shadow bushing the same height as your handle material, must be parallel to the liner, then you don't need to clamp it under the plate.
 
First I tried turning the bushings on a lathe. After 50 or a 100 or so I went to drilling them thru while
in the handle scale(usually micarta). The glue I use is SG thick, and kick it. Rarely do I have the bit push
the bushing out. I didn't like the lathe cause I just wasn't getting it as centered as I would have liked.
Ken.
 
kdUKcIV.jpg

This is how I'm drilling it now. I am going to try a Jack of some sort next. Also the one I'm working on now is burlap micarta so the glue may not hold as well. Thanks for all the replies!
 
Nsewell - Only advice I can give is to have a backing material under the shadow bushing so the drill doesn't catch at the end. I think that is pulling it out via twist action as the bit breaks through. Rotate the scale around 180, add a backer, clamp both sides and drill through. I use a scrap of HDPE. But Micarta or similar would also work.

That's how I've done it on several shadow patterns, without any issue.

PS. I like your trick using the parallel hole. May have to borrow that one.

Barret
 
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I believe its called omni bond. I have the bushing glued into the scale which already has the cavity
and the pivot hole in it. I then drill it thru the pivot hole from the back side. Some way, some how, if
both the cavity and bushing were acetone clean it should work.
Ken
 
Have you tried drilling your pivot first before you glue anything down, then attach your pivot and scale material to your liner all at once. Using the pin to line everything up. I have done it that way and it worked perfectly.
 
I used to have the same issue. Here is what I found: Either you are using too much pressure on the drill bit or getting the shadow bushing too hot during the drilling process (or most likely both). I think what is happening is the bushing is getting too hot and melting the glue and then at that point, the bushing will push right out (or spin).

I now use a sharp bit (which you are already doing), use a backer piece of material (as previously mentioned) drill proper speeds for the bit (high speed) and take 3-4 pokes at it (letting the bushing cool in between) and use some cutting fluid as well. Take your time on this and you will get good results.

One other item is if you use a larger shadow bushing, it will take longer to heat up and also if you center your bushing on the scale (rather than your pivot) it will drill offcenter and have much less opportunity to "spin" the bushing in your scale.


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It normally spins/ pushes out about 1/2 way through. I try to use as little pressure as possible but it's hard to feel on the mill. Thanks everyone for the advice I'm going to try again soon!
 
here's another one to clamp and fixture
then you can use a support or jack underneath

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have you tried using a smaller drill first and then follow up with the correct size?
Chances are a small pilot hole will not cause the plug to turn
 
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